THE PREDICTION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION AROUND HIGHWAYS USING CARBON MONOXIDE AS THE INDICATOR OF VEHICLE POLLUTION

Air pollution from vehicles is a factor included in the assessment of the environmental impact of roads. For this purpose it is necessary to have a method of predicting pollutant levels for various road configurations and traffic flows. A method of prediction is described in this paper which uses data on traffic flows, vehicle speeds, road layout and meteorological conditions and assumes Gaussian type dispersion of the pollutants. The concentrations predicted by the first theoretical model were compared with measurements of carbon monoxide (taken as representative of present day vehicle pollution) at two sites and the predicted values were generally lower than those measured. The method of prediction was modified after examining the various parameters used in the calculations and it then gave levels which were in acceptable agreement with the measurements. The method of prediction can usefully be used in the comparative evaluation of the air pollution impact of alternative road schemes and the existing situation although the accuracy of the absolute values predicted has not been established. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860500802
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of Seminar Q held at the PTRC Summer Annual Meeting, University of Warwick, Highway Planning and Design, July 7-10, 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  Planning and Transport Res and Computation Co Ltd

  110 Strand
  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • COLWILL, D M
  • HICKMAN, A J
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 29-41
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Planning and Transport Res and Computation Co Ltd
  • Publisher: Planning and Transport Res and Computation Co Ltd
  • ISSN: 0266450-X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Air pollution; Carbon monoxide; Forecasting; Highway design; Highways; Layout; Mathematical models; Measurement; Meteorology; Motor vehicles; Pollutants; Speed; Traffic flow; Traffic speed; Weather
• Old TRIS Terms: Emission rates
• ITRD Terms: 7391: Carbon monoxide; 1394: Catalytic converter; 132: Forecast; 2755: Highway; 2885: Layout; 6473: Mathematical model; 6136: Measurement; 5408: Speed; 671: Traffic flow; 2545: Weather
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00342438
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0 86050-080-2
• Report/Paper Numbers: P199
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM